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By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
In 1972, longtime NBC executive Bud Grant jumped to CBS for a position as vice president of daytime programming. In his new role, Grant inherited a stagnant morning schedule of reruns from prime time. He thought game shows could spruce up a wilting lineup and bring an element of fun. Grant tried one game show in the summer of 1972 as a signal flare of sorts—an odd game called […]

Continue Reading about 50 Years Ago: CBS Brought Play to Mornings Published on:
August 22, 2022

By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
It was a bona fide institution for over a decade on NBC, a phoenix of a game that rose from the ashes twice, becoming a favorite for game show fans across three generations. It was Concentration, and it came to life on America’s TV screens on August 25, 1958.
Jack Barry was toying with an idea based on a childhood card game; you’d spread the deck out and turn over […]

Continue Reading about Do You Remember These Memory Games? Published on:
July 26, 2022

By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
On July 27, 2022, Norman Lear will celebrate his 100th birthday. Among his numerous contributions to television: creating, developing, and producing more than 100 series, including All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, and The Jeffersons; serving as a consultant for several episodes of South Park; and hosting a game show.
Wait, hold on, that can’t be right, can it?…Yes, Norman Lear was a game show host. In 1981, […]

Continue Reading about Showing Their Playful Side: Unlikely Game Show Hosts Published on:
June 22, 2022

By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for The Strong’s National Archives of Game Show History
On June 19, 1952, game show moguls Mark Goodson & Bill Todman introduced a new panel game, I’ve Got a Secret, intended to be a summer replacement for a mystery drama, Casey, Crime Photographer. The utterly basic premise: A contestant whispered a secret about themselves to the host. The panel had to ask yes/no questions to figure out the secret. And with such a simple formula, I’ve Got […]

Continue Reading about Game Show History: Who Has a Secret? Published on:
May 23, 2022

By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
Stay up to date with the world of game shows and The Strong’s National Archives of Game Show History with this recurring blog. This month, learn about May’s lineup of music game shows and the history of this playful subgenre.
In the month of May, Fox is hoping game show fans will tune in for tunes. Starting May 23, the network’s Monday prime time schedule will be wall-to-wall musical […]

Continue Reading about Play on with Music Game Shows Published on:
April 25, 2022

By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
Stay up to date with the world of game shows and The Strong’s National Archives of Game Show History with this recurring blog. This month, learn about the return of ABC’s The Chase and the history of “beat the expert” games. (Bob Boden, one of the Archive’s cofounders, produced the original U.S. version of The Chase in 2014.)
The Chase is returning to ABC for a third season. Twenty episodes […]

Continue Reading about Game Show Updates: The Chase is Back On! Published on:
March 29, 2022

By Adam Nedeff, Researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
The Strong launched the National Archives of Game Show History in 2021 to collect, preserve, and help tell the story of this playful television genre. To stay up to date with the Archives and happenings in the world of game shows, check out a new, recurring feature in the museum’s e-newsletter and accompanying blog posts:
When Michael Strahan walks onto the stage of The $100,000 Pyramid on April 23, […]

Continue Reading about Game Show News: Pyramid Begins 50th Season! Published on:
February 24, 2022

While two versions of Police Academy are known to have been created at Atari, no playable versions had yet to be found. Within the Atari Coin-Op Division Corporate Records at The Strong, more than just a single playable version was founding, giving a glimpse into the creation of a long-lost video game.
By Andrew Borman

Continue Reading about Game Saves: Police Academy for NES Published on:
December 2, 2021

On November 4, 2022, the board game Risk joined the other celebrated toys and games in the National Toy Hall of Fame. But that accolade only confirmed what someone like John Crocker knew—Risk is a great game. Crocker served in the United States Air Force during the Gulf War, from 1990–1991. His squad stumbled upon a Risk board game. He said,
“During our time in the Gulf we must have played 50 (heated) games of Risk. Fast forward to our 25 year Gulf war […]

Continue Reading about Risk: Playing War with Family and Friends Published on:
November 18, 2021